The external morphology and osteology of the Land Mullet Egernia major is described based on ail available material in Australian museum collections and extant type material. The complex nomenclatural history of this species is discussed. Multivariate analysis of variation in external morphology does not identify any segment of the geographic distribution as distinct, although there is some clinal variation. Available data do not provide evidence for a close relationship with any other Egernia species and the previously identified “Egernia major” species group is concluded to have no morphological support. Litter sizes of 3-7 are recorded and reproduction is vernal. The species is omnivorous, with a high frequency of fungi and nocturnal invertebrates in the stomach contents.
Adler, K., 1995. Editor's note. P ii. in The lizards of Australia and New Zealand ed by J. E. Gray and A. Gunther. Facsimile reprint. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Boulenger, G. A., 1887. Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3. Lacertidae, Gerrhosauridae, Scincidae, Anelytropidae, Dibamidae, Chamaeleontidae. British Museum: London.
,
Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3. Lacertidae, Gerrhosauridae, Scincidae, Anelytropidae, Dibamidae, Chamaeleontidae
Bowler, J. K., 1977. Longevity of reptiles and amphibians in North American collections as of 1 November, 1975. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular No. 6: 1-32.
,
Longevity of reptiles and amphibians in North American collections as of 1 November, 1975
, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular
, vol. 6
(pg. 32
-1
) Cogger, H. G., 1975. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. A. H. and A. W. Reed: Sydney.
,
Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia
Cogger, H. G., Cameron, E. E. and Cogger, H. M., 1983. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. I. Amphibia and Reptilia. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra.
,
Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. I. Amphibia and Reptilia
Conran, J. G., 1983. Seed dispersal of Cockspur (Maclura cochinchinensis) (Lour.) Corner by Land Mullet (Egernia major). Vic. Nat. 100(6): 242-44.
,
Seed dispersal of Cockspur (Maclura cochinchinensis) (Lour.) Corner by Land Mullet (Egernia major)
, Vic. Nat.
, vol. 100
(pg. 242
-44
) Covacevich, J. A., 1971. Amphibian and reptile typespecimens in the Queensland Museum. Mem. Qld. Mus. 16(1): 49-67.
,
Amphibian and reptile typespecimens in the Queensland Museum
, Mem. Qld. Mus.
, vol. 16
(pg. 49
-67
) de Vis, C. W., 1888. A contribution to the herpetology of Queensland. Proc. Linn. Soc. NSW (2)2(4): 811-26.
,
A contribution to the herpetology of Queensland
, Proc. Linn. Soc. NSW
, vol. 2
(pg. 811
-26
) Dumeril, A. M. C. and Dumeril, M. A., 1851. Catalogue méthodique de la collection des reptiles. Gide et Baudry: Paris.
,
Catalogue méthodique de la collection des reptiles
Ehmann, H., 1992. Encylopedia of Australian Animals. Reptiles. Collins Angus and Robertson: Pymble.
,
Reptiles
Gray, J. E., 1838. Catalogue of the Slender-tongued Saurians, with descriptions of many new genera and species. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (2)2(10): 287-93.
,
Catalogue of the Slender-tongued Saurians, with descriptions of many new genera and species
, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.
, vol. 2
(pg. 287
-93
) Gray, J. E., 1841. A catalogue of the species of reptiles and amphibia hitherto described as inhabiting Australia, with a description of some new species from Western Australia, and some remarks on their geographical distribution. Pp. 422-49 in Journals of two expeditions of discovery in North-west and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, under the authority of Her Majesty's Government. Vol. 2. G. Grey. T. and W. Boone: London.
Gray, J. E., 1845a. Reptiles. Pp. 1-8 and pl. i-iv, vii-ix, xii-xiv, xx in The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, R.N., F.R.S., during the years 1839 to 1843. Vol. 2 ed by J. Richardson and J. E. Gray. E. W. Janson: London.
Gray, J. E. 1845b. Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. Edward Newman: London.
,
Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum
Gray, J. E., 1867. The Lizards of Australia and New Zealand in the Collection of the British Museum (with 18 plates of the new species, by Mr Ford.). Bernard Quaritich: London.
Greer, A. E., 1979. A phylogenetic subdivision of Australian skinks. Rec. Aust. Mus. 32(8): 339-71.
,
A phylogenetic subdivision of Australian skinks
, Rec. Aust. Mus.
, vol. 32
(pg. 339
-71
) Greer, A. E., 1982. A new species of Leiolopisma (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from Western Australia, with notes on the biology and relationships of other Australian species. Rec. Aust. Mus. 34(12): 549-73.
,
A new species of Leiolopisma (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from Western Australia, with notes on the biology and relationships of other Australian species
, Rec. Aust. Mus.
, vol. 34
(pg. 549
-73
) Gunther, A., 1867. Additions to the knowledge of Australian reptiles and fishes. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hut. (3)20(115): 45-68.
,
Additions to the knowledge of Australian reptiles and fishes
, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hut.
, vol. 20
(pg. 45
-68
) Gunther, A., 1875. A list of the saurians of Australia and New Zealand. Pp. 9-19 in The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, R.N., F.R.S., during the years 1839 to 1843. Vol, 2 ed by J. Richardson and J. E. Gray. E, W. Janson: London.
Gunther, A., 1877. Description of three new species of lizards from islands of Torres Straits. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4)19(113): 413-15.
,
Description of three new species of lizards from islands of Torres Straits
, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.
, vol. 19
(pg. 413
-15
) Gunther, A., 1879. Notice of a collection of reptiles from the islands of Torres Straits. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5)3(13): 84-87.
,
Notice of a collection of reptiles from the islands of Torres Straits
, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.
, vol. 3
(pg. 84
-87
) Gunther A., 1897, Description of new species of lizards and of a tree frog from north-eastern Queensland. Novitates Zoologicae 4: 403-06.
,
Description of new species of lizards and of a tree frog from north-eastern Queensland
, Novitates Zoologicae
, vol. 4
(pg. 403
-06
) Hauschild, A. and Gassner, P., 1995. Skinke im Terrarium. Landbuch Verlag: Hannover.
,
Skinke im Terrarium
Horton, D. R., 1972. Evolution in the genus Egernia (Lacertilia: Scincidae). J. Herpetol. 6(2): 101-09.
,
Evolution in the genus Egernia (Lacertilia: Scincidae)
, J. Herpetol.
, vol. 6
(pg. 101
-09
) Longley, G., 1946. The Giant Skink (Egernia major) in the vivarium. Proc. Roy. Zool. Soc. NSW 1945-46: 33-34.
,
The Giant Skink (Egernia major) in the vivarium
, Proc. Roy. Zool. Soc. NSW
, vol. 1945-46
(pg. 33
-34
) Longman, H. A., 1918. Notes on some Queensland and Papuan reptiles. Mem. Qld Mus. 6: 37-44.
,
Notes on some Queensland and Papuan reptiles
, Mem. Qld Mus.
, vol. 6
(pg. 37
-44
) Loveridge, A., 1934. Australian reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bull. Mus. Compar Zool. 77(6): 243-383.
,
Australian reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
, Bull. Mus. Compar Zool.
, vol. 77
(pg. 243
-383
) Mitchell, F. J., 1950. The scincid genera Egernia and Tiliqua (Lacertilia). Rec. SA Mus. 9(3): 275-308.
,
The scincid genera Egernia and Tiliqua (Lacertilia)
, Rec. SA Mus.
, vol. 9
(pg. 275
-308
) Peters, W, 1870. Eine Mitteilung caber neue Amphibien (Hemidactylus, Urosaura, Tropidolepisma, Geophis, Uriechis, Scaphiophis, Hoplocephalus, Rana, Entomoglossus, Cystignathus, Hylodes, Arthroleptis, Phyllobates, Cophomaniis) des Koniglich zoologischen Museums. Monatsberichte der Koniglich Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1870: 641-52.
,
Eine Mitteilung caber neue Amphibien (Hemidactylus, Urosaura, Tropidolepisma, Geophis, Uriechis, Scaphiophis, Hoplocephalus, Rana, Entomoglossus, Cystignathus, Hylodes, Arthroleptis, Phyllobates, Cophomaniis) des Koniglich zoologischen Museums
, Monatsberichte der Koniglich Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin
, vol. 1870
(pg. 641
-52
) Sadlier, R. A., 1990. A new species of scincid lizard from western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The Beagle, Records of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 7(2): 29-33.
,
A new species of scincid lizard from western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
, The Beagle, Records of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences
, vol. 7
(pg. 29
-33
) Schulz, M. and Eyre, T, 1997. Observations on some reptiles from Minnie Water, north-eastern New South Wales. Herpetofauna 27(1): 41-42.
,
Observations on some reptiles from Minnie Water, north-eastern New South Wales
, Herpetofauna
, vol. 27
(pg. 41
-42
) Shea, G. M., 1992. The systematics and reproduction of bluetongue lizards of the genus Tiliqua (Squamata: Scincidae). Ph.D. thesis, University of Sydney.
Shea, G. M., 1995a. A taxonomic revision of the Cyclodomorphus casuarinae complex (Squamata: Scincidae). Rec. Aust. Mus. 47(1): 83-115.
,
A taxonomic revision of the Cyclodomorphus casuarinae complex (Squamata: Scincidae)
, Rec. Aust. Mus.
, vol. 47
(pg. 83
-115
) Shea, G. M., 1995b. John Edward Gray, Albert Gunther, and The Lizards of Australia and New Zealand. Pp. iii-viii in The lizards of Australia and New Zealand ed by J. Gray and A. Gunther. Facsimile reprint. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Shea, G. M., 1995c. Herbivory in Egernia hosmeri (Squamata: Scincidae). Herpetofauna 25(2): 8-11.
,
Herbivory in Egernia hosmeri (Squamata: Scincidae)
, Herpetofauna
, vol. 25
(pg. 8
-11
) Sherborn, C. B., 1926. Dates of publication of early catalogues of natural history issued by the British Museum. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9)17(98): 271-72.
,
Dates of publication of early catalogues of natural history issued by the British Museum
, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.
, vol. 17
(pg. 271
-72
) Storr, G. M., 1978. The genus Egernia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in Western Australia. Rec. WA Mus. 6(2): 147-87.
,
The genus Egernia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in Western Australia
, Rec. WA Mus.
, vol. 6
(pg. 147
-87
) Swan, G., 1990. A Field Guide to the Snakes and Lizards of New South Wales. Three Sisters Publications: Winmalee.
,
A Field Guide to the Snakes and Lizards of New South Wales
Swan, G. A., 1995. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles. New Holland Publishers; Frenchs Forest.
Taylor, E. H., 1935. A taxonomic study of the cosmopolitan scincoid lizards of the genus Eumeces with an account of the distribution and relationships of its species. Kansas Uni. Sci. Bull. 23(14): 1-643.
,
A taxonomic study of the cosmopolitan scincoid lizards of the genus Eumeces with an account of the distribution and relationships of its species
, Kansas Uni. Sci. Bull.
, vol. 23
(pg. 1
-643
) Thorpe, R. S., 1975. Quantitative handling of characters useful in snake systematics with particular reference of intraspecific variation in the Ringed Snake Natrix matrix (L.). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 7(1): 27-43.
,
Quantitative handling of characters useful in snake systematics with particular reference of intraspecific variation in the Ringed Snake Natrix matrix (L.)
, Biol. J. Linn. Soc.
, vol. 7
(pg. 27
-43
) Wells, R. W. and Wellington, C. R., 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Aust. J. Herpetol. Suppl. Ser. No. 1: 1-61.
,
A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia
, Aust. J. Herpetol. Suppl. Ser. No.
, vol. 1
(pg. 1
-61
) Whittell, H. M., 1954. The Literature of Australian Birds: A history and a bibliography of Australian ornithology. Paterson Brokensha: Perth.
,
The Literature of Australian Birds: A history and a bibliography of Australian ornithology
Wilkinson, L., 1987. SYSTAT: the system for statistics. SYSTAT Inc.: Evanston.
,
SYSTAT: the system for statistics
Worrell, E., 1963. Reptiles of Australia. Angus and Robertson: Sydney.
,
Reptiles of Australia
This content is only available as a PDF.
